Those issues aside, Zack Snyder managed to squeeze a lot into “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Maybe a bit too much. He doesn’t always succeed in pulling all the competing elements together, but it’s undeniably thrilling to see the most iconic comic book heroes of the 20th century battle it out amid a flurry of dazzling special effects and chest-thumping violence.

There was no easy way to make this movie, considering the history of its main characters. Plus, Snyder had to deal with the fact that rival Marvel and its Avengers universe has gotten off to such a big head start — chronologically and stylistically — on DC and its Justice League.

So DC and Snyder jammed a lot into “Batman v Superman” to get back into the game. And it often works.

Maybe it is unfair to Ben Affleck that his new Batman comes while visions of Christian Bale still haunt our memories. That said, he mostly pulls it off. Most of the flaws in the role are circumstantial — he wasn’t allowed to do much more than be angry and/or brooding (if we have to watch Bruce Wayne’s parents die again, can we at least get the condensed version? We get it. He has issues).

Henry Cavill’s version of Superman seemed a bit more comfortable this time, as his character was given more depth in questioning his role on Earth. However, I would have liked to see him develop as a character in one more stand-alone movie before DC threw him into the superhero WrestleMania. This time, Snyder at least allows Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Amy Adams) to have a relationship.

Given a huge challenge, Snyder drops the gloves and tries going big, with mixed results. “Batman v Superman” is a dense, occasionally repetitive, long, almost humorless (about one chuckle per 50 minutes) film that doesn’t thoroughly explain various subplots, while dwelling too long on others. It needed more heart and fewer ominous overtones of men in capes grappling with their pasts. Ironically, the couple of laughs we get are really well set up by the morose mood. Synder should have gone to the fun well a few more times.

And we do have the terrific premise: Do the benefits of Superman outweigh the damage he causes and omnipotent power he represents (echoing a familiar theme in the U.S. since 9/11).

Snyder revisits the final battle of 2013’s “Man of Steel,” during which Superman and General Zod lay waste to much of Metropolis, including a building full of Bruce Wayne’s employees. What we didn’t see then was Wayne arriving in time to witness the real human cost on the ground. Wayne comes to believe we can’t trust an alien wielding the power to destroy Earth. In return, Superman/Clark Kent thinks Batman is a dangerous, sadistic vigilante.

Superman is also under fire from Congress over his tendency to be a bull in a china shop. Of course, gunning for him as well is Lex Luthor, who becomes the film’s de facto answer for unexplained circumstances. Jesse Eisenberg’s Luthor is problematic. He’s not the calculating, subtly threatening, occasionally gentlemanly villain of old. Eisenberg goes for twitchy, sociopathic freak — a poor-man’s version of The Joker. In previous incarnations, Luthor usually had at least somewhat logical reasons to hate and fixate on Superman. This time, Luthor seems nothing more than what happens when you mix crazy, smart and rich.

Orbiting around all this convolution is the mysterious breath of fresh air, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), who steals every scene she’s in. Her unveiling as Wonder Woman is one of the film’s best moments, and like someone coming off the bench to energize a team, she ramps up everyone else’s game.

She joins Batman and Superman in taking on Luthor’s conveniently created giant mountain of rage, Doomsday. At this point, asking for details is pointless. You just take the ride.

But don’t get the idea the ride isn’t awesome at times. The final, climactic battle scene is epic — as are the two big, noisy conflicts before it (yes, Superman and Batman trying to kill each other really does live up to expectations).

Snyder ends the film with what would have been a strong point, had the movie ended 10 minutes earlier. The film’s last microseconds made me wince, as did Bruce Wayne’s generic “we have to band together and be vigilant” declaration against an enemy that isn’t even there yet. Obviously, they’ll find one in time for the Justice League movie DC is slated to release next year.

Violent police encounters in California last year led to the deaths of 157 people and six officers, the state attorney general’s office said Thursday in a report that provides the first statewide tally on police use-of-force incidents.